Michael Jordan’s $61 Million Arrival Couldn’t Save His Dream NASCAR Race From Turning Into a Bubba Wallace-Shaped Nightmare at Talladega Earlier This Year

Michael Jordan has an aura like no other. Being one of the greatest athletes in sports history, his success is unparalleled. Having played a key role in making the Chicago Bulls a household name in the country, his influence has been immense. But that is true not just for basketball, but also for other sports. In NASCAR, he has made his presence known through 23XI Racing.

Co-owned by Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin, the team does share the owners’ vision of being a powerhouse in the division. Acquisition of talents like Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick only strengthens their intent. But if we consider this season as the timeline, they have not had much to celebrate except Reddick’s win at COTA.

On many occasions, MJ has been at the trackside cheering for his drivers. This year’s Cup race at Talladega was one of those times.

Bubba Wallace’s race-winning performance sees a tragic end at Talladega

Talladega was an unfortunate twist in the tale of two close friends. The pair in question is Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace. Blaney being Bubba’s groomsman in his wedding is proof enough of their bond. But the two got too close on the track. Bubba was on course to win at the Talladega Superspeedway until he made an unlucky block on the Team Penske driver. To worsen things, the incident took place in the final lap. With everything in sight, Bubba got nothing in reward.

The Alabama native did try to block Blaney multiple times previously until the gut-wrenching moment. Eventually, the wreck took place in the final lap, leaving Bubba spinning on the track. Here, the person who capitalized on the opening was Kyle Busch.

It was an incredibly tough moment for the team and their fans indeed. Jordan, being on the trackside, was seen looking shocked by the turn of events very much. This came after his special arrival at the race brought hype to the team and drivers. Jordan arrived in his renovated Gulfstream IV worth $61 million.

The tail number of his plane reads N236MJ, showcasing his iconic No.23 jersey and six NBA championship rings. However, none of his could actually save his dream NASCAR race, where both his drivers had a shot at winning last year, from turning into a nightmare.

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Bubba Wallace admitted to the wrong move that ruined his chances of a win

“You get big runs and you take ’em when you can. In my mind, you got a triple move like that, triple block, you can’t block three times. I don’t know. With Bubba, he’s trying to block, it’s the right thing to do. But he moved three times. I got to go somewhere, you know?” These were Blaney’s words after the wreck with his beloved friend.

From his standpoint, his move to go into the inside to gain an advantage seems the correct approach to take. But as Bubba tried to block, it made the situation unpredictable and risky as well. Well, what ensued is known to everyone.

Bubba took accountability for the wreck and accepted his fault at trying a poor move that turned out terribly. With both the driver having the best races of the season that weekend and a chance to claim a win, the wreck hurt both of them.

“Just got jumped by the 12. Pulled a late block. Close, close, close block and just sent us around so… not the 12’s fault. I honestly thought he would leave me high and dry coming back around. Just hate it for the team, and that’s how it goes. It’s our best, by far, plate race we’ve ever done.” said Bubba.

“When I’d seen the 12, I was pumped. We work well together, obviously. Every speedway race… It’s just the way it goes,” added Bubba commending his friendship with the 29-year-old.

Be it as a fan, a driver, a crew member, or as a team owner, everyone was on the edge of their seats as a nail-biting finish took place. What were your thoughts on the finish?

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